Grab bucket



7 Sheets-Shet 1 c. N. WINDECKER GRAB BUCKET Filed Feb 25. 1924 Dec. l 1925- Dec. 1, 1925- c. N. WINDECKER GRAB BUCKET Filed Feb 25, 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 'r11 :11M/lll 111111.1:/l10a/101011111011114 VIM/1411111011101,

5 nu anto/z Dec. 1, 1925- GRAB BUCKET '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb 25 1924 Dec. l, 1925. 1,564,041

c. N. WINDECKER GRAB BUCKET Filed Feby 25. 1924 7 SheetsSheet 4 Dec. 1 1925- C. N. WINDECKER GRAB BUCKET Filed Feb. 25, 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 1 Innung Dec. l, 1925- WINDECKER GRAB BUCKET Filed Feb; 25. 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Dec.

C. N. WINDECKER GRAB BUCKET 7 Sheets-SheelI 7 Filed Feb; 25, 1924 Patented Der. 1, 1925..

UNITED starre PATENT f ori-rca CLIFTON N. WINDEGKER, or lPA-rNEsvrrn, lomo.

' GRAB lBUfCKET.

y Application med-,February 25, 1924. Serial A1\Io.69fl,881.

. has special reference ,to Athat 'class of 'buckets CII which `are ada ated to 4pick up a load .and discharge 1t, either tor bulk loading, unloading or transferring purposes. rlhe 'bucket is characterized in `many particulars, lamong the most important of which may be mentioned First, a rcomparati-vely flat `and shallow kstructure oi maximum `capacit-y which permits oi thebucket'being operated in a limited space prohibitive to the ordinary clam bucket.

Second, instead of depending on a remote mechanism for manipulating the grab spades, closures or shells of a bucket, I lino-unt the Loperating mechanism in the bucket so ithat there are 1no arms, .trolleys or .other mechanism that Would interfere with lthe operation of the bucket in a compa ativelysmall space. The operating mechanism may utilize steam, air or other liquid as a motive fluid and by so arranging the cylinders, pistons, cables and sheaves the `opening andclosing of the bucket spades .can be effected `more efficiently `and With a minimum of space. On account oftheapplication ot poWerbe-ing applied in proximity to the bucket spades it it .obvious 'that .the power may be exerted to greater advantage when grabbing a load; that there Will be a more positive control ofthe bucket.

Third, the operating mechanism 1to1' opening and closing off t11e--,Spales ,iS entirely slepende-1.1i; onf the hoisting mechanism 4thereby permitting unusual and advantageous control of .the vlmket- Foiuth, there are various Ways ot' using iiuidpressure as aineans ofcouverting linear motion into rotary :mot-ioni@ .winding .and ui ,mdogpiuposes :Where cableslafie ai# 'ralisedfr l opening :and .closngspacles et a bucket, .andthe various. 'furnish-ii myinrelation will behereiiafter specifically 'Clesclibed and ,thenclamedrasa wherein,

Figure l isa ,plan ,ot a kgrab bucket partly broken away and .partly in horizontal section;

2 is a side elevation ofthe bucket withone of the sideplates [thereof removed :showing a .bucket .open in full lines and closed .by dot and dashlines;

1F i0'. .3 is a longitudinal sectional view maken `on the line III- .111 of Fig.' l;

Fig. .4 is:a.,c1;oss sectionaly view taken on theline IV--IVo-fFiOf, l;

5 is .a side elevation, on fa .reduced scale, of the Vbucket when closed;

Fig. v`6 is a lperspective view, somewhat diagrammatic, of the .cable fand sheave arrangement for opening and closing the spades ot the bucket;

Fig. 7 is a plan of a grab bucket showing another form 4of.operatirg mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a sidefelevationiofthe .same with one .ot the side plates .thereof remOved;

9 is a perspective View, somewhat .diagrammatic of Athe cable and sheave arrangement or the bucket shown in Figs. 7 and 48;

.F ig. l is a longitudinal sectional view taken-ot the line ofLFig. 7;

Fig. 11 ,is a side elevation of still another form `of bucket, partly broken away and partly insection, lshowing-'the bucket closed in fulllines and open .indot and dash lines;

'12 is a` plan of the same;

Fig 13 vis an enlarged detail sectional view A of one ofgthe pivoted sheaves for the bucket show-n in Figs. l'l and 12;

Fig. 14 isa ,perspective view, somewhat diagrammatic, of the -cable and sheavc arrangement `for thebuc'ket shown in Figs. 1.1 ,and vl2, vand .F l is a cross sectional view taken on the line Kil-'XV of Fig. l2.

Reference ivllcfrstbe had to Figs. l t0 G inclusiveWlierethef iramework ofthe grab bucket .is composed.oflouter .pilates 'l and 2,

acentral plate 4,3andintermediate plates 12- yand 5. 'llheseplates are' disposed in parallelism with the central portions of Said .plates foi g 'cater depthfthan the ends'thoreot andsaidplates `are maintained in spaced rc'latioin paritficularly'by tie rods 'tl' and spec ingslee. es 7. V

"',lfhlc oli-telipllatesl and 2 adjacentthe ends thereof and; 'onj thefinner facesof said plates are `pro i' 'led- `:vitli vvpmsl 8 `and :pivotally mount -l.onjsaidpinslare the apertured ears 1l? Q llspades 1111, each being Aspades pivoted the spades may be swung downwardly to an open position and in such position enter loose bulky matter for grab` bing a quantity of such matter as the spades are drawn towards each other to a closed position. The configuration of each spade is such that it is comparatively shallow, yet on account of the length of such spades affording a large capacity.` It will be noted that when the spades are closed they are in close proximity to the framework of the bucket and the outer plates 1 and2 of the bucket framework may cooperate with the side walls of the spades in preventingl large bulky matter from. falling over the side walls 10 during movementof vthe bucket framework.

Attached to the outer plates 1 and 2 adjacent the ends thereof are suspension cables or members 12 by which the bucket may be raised and lowered or otherwise manipulated.

There is an operating mechanism for each spade 11 and the operating mechanisms are identical in vconstruction and are adapted to operate in synchronism so that there will be an even and uniform movement of the spades 11 when opening or closing. I deem it only necessary to describe in detail one of said operating mechanisms and then refer to the cooperation of said mechanisms.

Between the central plate 3 and the intermediate plate 4, at one end thereof is a cylinder 13 containing a piston 14 provided with a piston rod` 15 extending through a stuffing box 16 at one end of the cylinder, said cylinder having` suitable connections 17 and 18 for the intake and exhaust of a motive fluid adapted to reciprocate the piston 14 in the cylinder. The motive fluid may be conducted to the cylinder from a remote source and the intake and exhaust ofjfluid to and from the cylinder controlled by the manipulation of a suitable valve' (not v shown.)

The confronting faces of the central plate 3 and the intermediate plate 4 have longitudinal slide-ways 19 for a cross head 2O on the outer end of the piston rod 15, and journaled in the plates 3 to 5 inclusive, at the outer ends of the slideways 19, is a main shaft 21 on which is fixed three sheaves 22,

23, and. 24, between the plates 3 and 4. Attached to the sheav'e 23 and wound thereon is a cable or flexible member 25 connected to the cross head whereby when the cross head is reciprocated in one direction the cable 25 will impart rotation to the shaft 21. Journale'd in the plates 3 and 4 adjacent 'the inner'endsff the slide-ways 19 is an auxiliary shaft 26 and mounted on said shaft are articulated sheaves 27 about which are trained cables 28, said cables being attached to the cross head 2O and to the sheaves 22 and 24. Movement of the cross head 2O in the opposite direction to that previously mentioned will cause rotation of the shaft 21 in an opposite direction.

On the shaft 21, between the plates 2 and 5 and also between the plates 4 and 1 are sheaves 29 and 30. Attached to the vsheavev 30 and wound thereon is a cable 31 which has its free end attached to the side wall 10 of the spade 11, contiguous to the apertured ear 9 of the side wall.

Rotatable between the side plates 2 and 5, also between the plates 1 and 4, are main sheaves 32 and 33. VAttached to the main sheave 83 is a cable 34 which extends to the sheave 29 thus permitting of rotation being imparted to the sheaves 32 and from the shaft 21.

Attached to the sheave 32 is a cable 35 which has its free end connected to a side wall 10 of the spade 11, adjacent its open end. v

It .is apparent by reference to Fig. 6 that the kcables 35 are employed for closing the spades and the cables 31 employed for opening the spades, it being necessary that there be slack or an unwinding movement of the cables 35 when the spades are opened and slack or unwindingof the cables 31 when the spades are closed.

To insure uniform movement of the two spades t-he main sheaves 32 of one spade operating mechanism are connected to the main sheaves 32 ofthe other spade mechanism by cables 36 and 87 wound in reverse directions on said main sheaves and suitably connected thereto, consequently these main sheaves will be caused to rotate in synchronism and prevent one spade from lagging behind or moving in advance of the other.

By reference to Figs. 1 and 4 it will be noted that the connection 1S is for both cylinders and the'connections 17 are adapted to communicate with each other whereby the pistons in said cylinders can be simul-` taneously moved to effect opening or closing of the spades through the medium of the novel arrangement of sheaves and cables just described. lVith the operating mechanisms housed in the framework there is no superstructure, such als levers, arms etc., which would interfere with the bucket occupying a comparatively small space, particularly when closed, and since-power is appliedin close proximity to the vspades it 1s obvious that greater force maybe exerted "inl connection with the spades for grabbing or scooplng purposes,'th a n if the power were transmitted from some' remotev point.

`'Another Vform of operating mechanism' @eccoci "for the bucket spades is shown in Figs. 7 to l0 inclusive and `the framework. for the bucket includes a set et outer side plates 38, a set oft intermediate plates l39 ,and a set `ot central `plais 410 with the louter lends of all ot said plates connected `by end plates /l-J.. .Connecting the cenlral'plates e0 are transversely `disposed supports jall flier bearings 42 provided with a crank :shaft l/l, said crank shaft having its ends extending through the intermediate plates 39.

Between the tcentral plates l() are supports cooperating` with supports 45 of Athe end plates ell in supporting c/lindert: -l arranged in `pairs with a steam or air chest i7 connecting the cylinders of .each pair, the steam or air chest containing a conventional torni oi slide valve .mechanism connected by a pitman -l-S 'to an eccentric a9 on the `crank .shaft 423, whereby steam or air may be admitted to said cylinders in timed relation. In the cylinders are pistons connected .at 900 to the vcrank shaft all so that said crank sha-tt :may be driven j all of the pistons, thus providin a power plant somewhat similar to a steam' engine, and provi-sien may be made so that the operation oi? the enginemay be reversed and the crank shalt 11:3 driven in Aa desired direction.

On the outer-ends of the ycrank `shaft 48, between,jtheplatcs l0 .and 39 are sheaves 50 and 5l.

Journaled in the outer ends ofv the plates 238, 239 and 410 are auxiliary shafts 52 for articulated sheaves and 54, the sheaves being connected by cables to the pivoted ends of the spades, and the sheaves 5l; connected by cables 56 to the sheaves 50,

Contiguous to the crank shaft el?) are main shafts 57 provided with sheaves 58 and 59, Vlhc sheaves 58 have cables (3() connected to the outer open ends of the spades 1l and the sheaves 59 are connected by cables (il to the sheaves 5l, the winding arrangement ol" the various cables being` such as to be maintained taut as the spades ll are either opened or closed by rotation oit the crank .shalt 43 in a desired direction.

tfltill another 'lorin oi my invention has been shown in Figs. ll. to l5 inclusive wherein the bucket :tramcwork includes connected outer side plates G52 and .intermediate platos with the intermediate plates supportingcylinders Geladapted to .receive a motive fluid at either end thereof tor shifting; back and lorth pistons in cach cylinder. 'lhe sets of pistons have rods 66 connected to cross heads 67 slidable in ways G8 carried by the intermediate plates The arrangement of sheaves and cables for each bucket spade are identical, there- Jfore deem it only necessary to describe one arrangement at one end of the bucket :trame- Work. The bucket spades 11 are pivotally ilployetl.

supported -iiroin the side plate 62 andthe plvoted ends ot said spadesarefconnected to cables 369 .trained over sheaves 70 ,journaled in yokes 71 '.trunnioned in and .between the plates G2 and 33) with one of the trunnions hollow so that the cable G9 may extend .to and about a compound sheave 72 rotatable in a bracket 73 carried by an end plate 741-V ol-ithe framework. The compound sheave l72 .has .another Acable 7 5 attached thereto which :the cross head67 will cause winding and unwinding of the cables 69 and 80.

For moving` the open ends `ot the bucket spades 'il sets of `cables 82 andSS are ein- The set o'cables 82 are yattached to the. open end of' the bucket spade l1 and to .largesheaves Sfion a shaft 85 journaled in the bucket framework :below the cylinders Gel. FormingV part of fthe sheaves Skil are small sheaves to which are attached-the cables 83,*saidcables being attached to compound sheaves 8T rotatable on the `ends oi" the cross heads 67. Other cables 88 are attached to the compound sheaves 87 and to anchor' rods 89 connecting` the plates 62 and G3, the cables 88 being arranged the reverse t the cables 83 on the compound sheaves 87.

In all ot the sheave and cable arrangements herein disclosed it is to be understood that the cables or flexible members are prevented from becoming accidentally displaced by grooved or flanged sheaves and that in training; the cables relative to said sheaves there is an arrangement by which some cables are wound and others unwound with the t 'ansinission of power by said cables accomplishinp, the duty to be performed.

What I claim is:-

l. A grab bucket comprising;- a tramework, spades pivotally connected to said framework adapted to close in proximity to said framework and when open extend downwardly from said rameworlc and means horizontally disposed in said trame-v Work adapted for swinging,` said spades on their pivots.

2. A grab bucket as called for in claim l, wherein said spades are substantially rectangular and shallow and lie in parallelism with said framework when in closed position. l

3. A grab bucket as called for in claim l, wherein said meansinclndes a cylinder and slide cross head for each spade.

el. A grab btfcket as called for in claim l,

wherein said means includes end and inter- -mediate sheaves, cables extending longitudinally of said framework and motive fluid adapted to effect movement of said cables.

5. A grab bucket as called for in claim l, wherein said means includes cylinders, pistons in said cylinders adapted to be shifted by motive iiuid admitted to said cylinders, a set of sheaves for each spade7 cables connecting the sets of sheaves, and cables on the other of said sheaves operated by said pistons to swing said spades.

G. A grab bucket comprising` a framework7 pivoted spades supported from said framework and adapted to open and close relative to each other, and motive fluid operated means horizontally disposed in said framework adapted for opening and closing said spades.

7. A grab bucket as called for in claim 6, wherein said motive fluid operated means includes cables for opening` said spades, cables for closing said spades, all of said cables extendinglongitudinally of said framework, and sheaves by which said cables may be wound and unwound to effect opening and closing of said spades.

8. A grab bucket comprising a framework, spades supported from said frame- "i work and adapted to open and close relative to each other, cables extending longitudinally of said framework adapted for opening and closing each spade, cable operating means in one end of said framework for each spade and means articulating said cable operating means to cause synchronous movement of said spades.

9. A grab bucket as called for in claim 8, wherein said cable operated means includes motive fluid operated pistons and sheaves, the cables being arranged on said sheaves, so that some of the cables are wound and others unwound to effect opening and closing` of said spades.

10. A grab bucket comprising a framework, spades supported from said framework and adapted to open and close relative to each other, a horizontal arrangement of cables and sheaves in each end of said framework for each spade, said cables being attached to said sheaves and trained thereon to cause opening and closing of said spades when said sheaves are rotated7 and means in said framework to cause rotation of said sheaves. v

ll. A grab bucket as called for in claim l0, wherein said framework includes parallel plates with the last mentioned means between intermediate plates and said sheaves between other of said plates.

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CLIFTON N. VVINDECKER. 

